25.08.26.Today News : Seoul Deungchon Station Manhole Accident: Worker Swept Away and Killed in Torrential Rain

Seoul Deungchon Station Manhole Accident: Worker Swept Away and Killed in Torrential Rain

• Worker swept into manhole during heavy rain, found at pumping station an hour later… Controversy grows over lack of safety management despite ban on rainy-day work

A fatal accident occurred near Deungchon Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where a man in his 50s, engaged in manhole maintenance work, was swept away by sudden torrential rain and found dead. In just over 10 minutes, the downpour turned the manhole into a deadly trap, raising criticism that safety regulations were not properly enforced.

A worker in his 50s died after being swept away by heavy rain while performing manhole repair work.

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■ “Someone’s been swept away!”
At around 8:30 a.m. on the 25th, a sudden downpour hit the streets near Deungchon Station, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Commuters were clinging to umbrellas when a frantic cry pierced through the rain.
“Someone’s been swept away!”
The open manhole instantly became a deadly hole, and worker A, engaged in underground repair, was dragged away by the torrent. His colleagues desperately called his name into the rushing water, but their voices were drowned out by the roar of the storm.

■ Rescue team arrived within 4 minutes but…
The report was made at 8:38 a.m., and firefighters arrived just 4 minutes later at 8:42. But by then, A had already been carried away by the strong current. The rescue team opened nearby manholes and searched 300 meters downstream but found no trace.

A fire department official explained, “When we arrived, the manhole was open and five workers were present. The strong current appears to have swept the victim away.”

■ Found at pumping station after one hour
The rescue operation mobilized 59 personnel and 14 pieces of equipment, extending the search downstream. About an hour later, at 9:42 a.m., A was discovered at the Gayang rainwater pumping station, about 1.4 kilometers from the accident site. He was found at a depth of 4 meters underground, already in cardiac arrest.

■ Residents in shock: “Rain so heavy we couldn’t see”
The downpour in Eomchang-dong, Gangseo-gu, exceeded 20 mm in just 10 minutes. Local residents said the rain was so heavy visibility was almost zero.
One restaurant owner lamented, “I don’t understand why work was being carried out in such weather.” A convenience store clerk recalled, “I heard about the accident from a customer, and within minutes police cars and fire trucks rushed to the scene.”

■ Safety rules ignored, management failure
Investigators believe A was swept away by sudden flash flooding. By regulation, underground work is prohibited during rainy conditions. Nevertheless, work continued despite Korea Meteorological Administration warnings of up to 100 mm rainfall that day.

It was later confirmed that no supervisory inspector from the district office was present at the site, further fueling criticism of negligence and management failure.

■ Manholes turn into “roadside black holes” during downpours
Experts warn that manholes become hidden traps during heavy rainfall. Water pressure can dislodge or lift manhole covers, endangering pedestrians and workers.

In 2022, siblings in Seoul’s Gangnam drowned after being swept into a manhole during heavy rain. Similar accidents occurred in Busan and Gwangju this year. A study by the National Disaster and Safety Research Institute showed that rainfall of 50 mm per hour can lift manhole covers weighing over 40 kg.

📌 Safety guidelines for pedestrians in heavy rain

Experts emphasize that pedestrians must follow strict safety rules during flash floods:

△ Safe walking depth is up to knee level (about 50 cm), but even 15 cm of fast water can sweep a person away.

△ Foam or whirlpools on the water’s surface may indicate an open manhole and must be avoided.

△ When crossing unavoidable water, take shorter steps and use an umbrella or stick to probe the ground.

△ Sneakers are safer than slippers; if barefoot, slide feet along the ground to avoid tripping.

△ If someone falls in, avoid jumping in directly; instead, use long objects like umbrellas or sticks to assist.

One-line summary : A worker was swept away and killed during manhole maintenance near Seoul’s Deungchon Station, raising concerns over inadequate safety management.